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This book was a wonderful breath of fresh air! I just loved it. I loved that it takes place in America, later than the regency London I always seem to be reading. The change of scenery and social aspects was nice.

All the characters were amazing. I especially loved the heroine. She was just so real, spunky, yet classy, I think she’s my idol haha.

The hero is not my normal type. Honestly I usually find anything to do with Wall Street/stocks almost a turn off (although obviously found more in contemporary) but he’s just so real, and fun, and smart I couldn’t help but love him too.

I love the way they fall in love. It happens slowly, purposefully, even though neither expects or wants it. It happens in stages and I loved getting to go through that with them.

My favorite thing about this book was the blatant honesty of both both of them. I have read so many romances that hide these feelings until the very end or the feelings are assumed and the actions don’t match...I loved that they talked about what was happening. It was so real.

I definitely plan on checking out more from this author.

Piper has been beyond bored languishing away in a secluded house all for the sake of her protection. Julian will do anything to keep her safe, especially from him, which means distance is paramount. Julian is attempting to assemble the league in a secure place and has his work cut out for him. Piper doesn't really know what he's been up to, and causes quite a scene to get his attention. Thus begins their adventure. Keeping Piper safe proves to be way more difficult when someone with similar powers is hunting her.

This was my first Tracy Sumner book. This is the first book in the series, no prequel novella or anything. But my biggest complaint about this book was that it doesn't feel like that at all. You walk into the middle of a crazy story with a lot of paranormal-ish stuff going on (reading minds, seeing auras, telekinesis) with hardly any explanation. I'm not sure if she has other books that are in a similar world or if this is just how this one starts. I would definitely try this author again, as there was a lot I liked, but perhaps another series.

If you are looking for a paranormal and historical combo, I highly suggest you try this. Its definitely unique, it's sexy, action packed, I just felt quite a bit lost for much of the beginning of the book it was hard to really fall in love with the story. I was frustrated that there was so much history going on, past relationships, experiences, everyone's powers and I didn't know how any of it was happening. I feel like this book definitely needs a prequel lol.

Thank you netgalley for the complimentary ARC. These opinions are my own

I had such high hopes for this book! I so enjoyed the first one, this one I didn’t care for.

The hero and heroine barely have interactions in the first 100 pages. It’s all rumor and conjecture and gossip the heroine hears about the hero.

It was...so....boring! I was reading and reading waiting for basically anything to happen with them and I felt like I never got it. Even the dialogue between them when it did happen wasn’t compelling. When it finally got to some action scenes I basically didn’t even care and was almost skimming them. These characters didn’t come remotely close to touching my heart unfortunately.

At first I thought I would like this book. It had some ideas in it that weren't super original, but I agreed with. But as the book went on, I noticed more and more things I disagreed with. Perhaps it's just my type A personality. If you are a big believer in unschooling, give this book a try, it might be more for you.

I agree with some of the advice. Obviously if your child(ren) are whispering and poking each other and not listening while you drone on about the periodic table, something needs to change. The environment, the curriculum, the timing, the atmosphere, the learning style...but to completely give up on basically every curriculum and take on the attitude 'they will get it', just isn't okay with me.

The fact that her child didn't know how to read by age 8 (I understand, my son has a genetic deletion as well as speech apraxia, he very well may not be reading by age 8) and her solution wasn't to teach him, it was to trust that he would teach himself basically...and she could just point out words that he needed help with...well that made me lose all hope in this book. I am such a believer in phonics and especially with English, there are so many rules about letter combinations I think the approach to let them teach themselves does a huge disservice to those children.

It was a similar approach with math, stating multiple times that she's not a math wiz or math genius, and doing simple things like baking in the kitchen (again, an important and fun event, but not the be all end all the teaching math) will be enough.

I think we can look at our own lives and what skills we use and say we don't need x, y, and z but I strongly believe that's not our jobs as parents. It's to teach our children all the skills required for them to make their own choices in life. To limit them, is beyond sad.

Also noticed typos and repeated paragraphs in this book that bothered me. I get mistakes happen, but it just looked unprofessional.

Safety warning:

Spoiler

miscarriage, murder (self defense), PTSD

This is the second book in the Duke Dynasty series. A Duchess was married 3 times and had 5 children, so 3 of her sons are inheriting a dukedom. I love this concept so much!!! But, I wasn't a fan of the first book. Neither character really pulled me, probably just a personality disconnect or something. Still, I love Sabrina Jeffries and will always give her a try. I enjoyed this book a little more, but it still fell flat for me :( This book is about Gwyn, (before mentioned Duchess's daughter), and Joshua. Joshua is the brother of Beatrice, who is the heroine of book 1. This book can be read as a standalone, but I think it would be better if you read the first book for a few reasons. First of all, there seems to be a series long mystery going on, possibly with the mother's past? We didn't find out in the first book, and are also left hanging in this book without much information. Secondly, the first book does a good job of explaining all the family dynamics and establishing character personalities, many of whom are this book as well.

I think you would enjoy this story if you like
a war hero, soldier, wounded hero (he does suffer from PTSD)
plenty of plot/mystery/action going on
plenty of secrets held by characters
an 'older' heroine, she is 30 people, break out the cane
bodyguard trope

This book had a few things going on that usually aren't my favorite which is probably why it wasn't a high star rating for me. I think plenty of others will love it. I don't love when the heroine has a past, and much of the book covers this, what has happened in the past and how it's affecting the current situation. I don't really love the war/spy theme woven in the book, it's just not my thing. This book didn't have much tension to me, kisses and sexual encounters kept happening but I didn't feel the build up or the wanting necessarily. It just felt more mechanical to me. I guess I just couldn't see why or how they were falling in love. The dialogue didn't make me feel their pasts. Oh yes, they have pasts and baggage but it was more like it was just stated, I saw it, I didn't feel it. They didn't worm their way into my hearts like some characters do. It wasn't an unpleasant read for me, but it didn't have anything standing out that brought it above pleasant for me. It was okay.

I am loving the covers for this series though. I adore this cover and it portrays a scene from the story which I love even more.

I give 3 stars.

I was able to receive an ARC copy complimentary from netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Safety issues are found in this book, including

Spoiler

domestic violence, physical abuse, rape, murder, death.

Constance, or Connie, has secured a duke for a husband and left her friend Alex McGuiness in the past. Being a naive, young debutante, with a ruthless mother only after the best title, she found herself trapped in a hell of a marriage where abuse was a daily ritual. She has no one in her escape this life and just tries to survive, cherishing the days her husband leaves town or becomes inebriated and passes out.

Alec has become a respected doctor and due to his mutual friendships, he would like to speak the Connie and relay her wellbeing. However, when he finds her at Duke Kilmaine's ball, he can see past her cold facade and see the bruises underneath. She tries to push him away to protect him, but he perseveres and provides his protection.

Soon they are both on the run and only have each other. The mystery and relationship progress along with plenty of action happening too.

This is so not my thing, and that is because it's a total murder mystery. I did find it intriguing the first 30% and then when the relationship took second to the ever evolving murder plot, I started to lose more interest. It's not bad, or poorly written, and I think if you love some mystery, or solving a murder mixed with romance this would be a great choice. It deals with serious issues without being overly graphic. But it's definitely not a warm and fuzzy romance, but it falls short of maybe Kerrigan Byrne's writing. Its not that I need a warm and fuzzy romance though, in fact I much prefer an angsty, gritty, graphic novel, but that tension and relationship needs to be carried strongly through the book and I just didn't feel that here in this novel. I did think with everything the heroine had experienced, she moved into a new relationship fairly fast, yet it also felt not soon enough within the book to build a good tension (to me). Again this is just because so much was spent on the developing plot. It did keep me guessing, which was good. I also didn't get quite the character depth I wanted, but I didn't dislike either character.

I would definitely try this author again though, if I found one that was a bit more focused on the romance and relationship building.

I give 3 stars.
This is my first book by this author.

I was able to receive an ARC copy complimentary from netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is my second Janna MacGregor (I also read #5). This book can be read as a standalone, but the characters from the previous book (and possibly others) are in it. Also, the heroine from this story is the one that ruthlessly broke the heart of the hero in book 5. It's not a huge part of the story, which is why I say it can be read alone, but as usual with a series you will get more from the characters if it's read in order.

Avalon has had a horrible first marriage. Widowed, she is happy to raise her son alone while helping fallen women get back on their feet. Her son's guardian sends his brother, Devan, to keep tabs on her and her spending. As Devan is a vicar, he takes up residence in the town. Well known to have a rakish reputation, he is fooling everyone with what's truly underneath.

I think you should give this story a try if you are looking for
the ever elusive virgin hero!
- You prefer widowed heroines
- You like a bit of enemies to lovers feel, though not overwhelming (a bit of push and pull, but their relationship progresses well before the end of the book, enough that they don't feel like enemies for long)
- You like a lot of plot devices going on, things to keep the book rolling right up to the end
- You want a different kind of hero – with him being a vicar and a virgin, Devan just felt different than other heroes I have read lately
- You like a child in the story and watching those family dynamics form with the main characters.

Personally, there were a few things that put me off this book. Some parts were overly dramatic to me, especially the beginning. I did get past it and enjoyed a bit of the middle, but then again the book started having a lot going on that pulled you outside of the actual relationship of the two main characters. If you like a book that keeps you busy and moving, you will probably like this more than me. There were a number of others things, but I'll include those under a spoiler header.

I love the cover!

Thanks netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own about the book.

Spoiler

Specific things I didn't like about this story.
I thought the beginning was just crazy. With how it was presented, I expected Mary Bolen to be in this story way more. Maybe she will have her own book further on, but it was just so over the top. I get it was setting up for the heroine to start her 'business' of helping people, but I just felt like it could have been done a little different. Her husbands behavior was appalling but at the same time, absurd. It just felt like too much. A bit unbelievable.

I was annoyed about the whole nickname Lady Warlock. I felt like we didn't get to see the original interaction between them, but after ten years of him doing it, it's implied he does it to bother her and she, rightfully, gets bothered. Then she decides halfway through the book she likes it. And he named her it as an endearment. I just wasn't buying it.

Just when I was liking the main couple's interactions and was feeling their relationship starting to really grow, it felt like all hell broke loose. Someone is desperate to compromise the hero. Oh, wait, the heroine is compromised. Now someone is pregnant. Now someone's engaged to a rapist murderer. Now the murderer murdered someone else. Just kidding that person is alive. Now the murderer is dead. The end. I was like WHERE DID ALL THIS COME FROM??? It made me sad because it totally took a way from the relationship of Avalon and Devan and I was left unconvinced that they truly loved each other. I felt like not enough had really happened between them to give me that solid conclusion.

So anyway, not for me.